The Details: Giving Up Never An Option For Holiday
July 29, 2015 | General, Men's Basketball
By Mason Kelley
GoHuskies.com
For Justin Holiday, giving up was not an option.
It wasn't an option when he went undrafted after graduating from Washington in 2011. It wasn't an option after being cut by Cleveland, Portland and Utah during training camps early in his career. It wasn't an option when his NBA dream took an international detour through Belgium and Hungary.
As long as the 6-foot-6, guard-forward felt young enough to earn his spot on an NBA roster, there was only one thing to do – keep working.
The 26-year-old bounced around for a few years, patiently pushing toward an extended stay on an NBA roster.
“I felt like I still had a good chance,” Holiday said. “You might as well try when you're young.”
After a journey that took Holiday from the D-League to the Orlando Summer League and included a short nine-game stint with Philadelphia in 2012-13, Holiday finally earned his opportunity last season.
He played for Golden State in the summer league. He was invited to training camp. He earned a roster spot that carried him all the way to an NBA championship.
“They kept me and we had a historic season,” Holiday said. “It was a great experience and now I'm an NBA champion. It's the only way I would have it.”
Sitting in a chair in the Husky Hall of Fame last week, Holiday talked about his journey, the unplanned path that led him from Washington to the NBA.
“I made it to this point because of the work I've put in, because I didn't give up,” said Holiday, who was on campus to promote the We Are Washington scholarship fund. “It's a good example for other kids who are playing this game and want to make it.”
For Holiday – he will play for Atlanta this season – his career is about more than himself. He perseveres to show others what is possible.
“Everything doesn't always go the way you want it to,” he said. “There are going to be times when you're knocked down. Hopefully I'm a good example to other people in whatever they want to do.
“It's not just about me. I'm doing it for other people. That's what life is about.”
When Holiday began his professional journey, he was told he wasn't big enough. He was too skinny to make it in the NBA. Instead of listening to those who didn't think he could carve out a career, he used the criticism to fuel his work in the gym.
“Having to work through stuff, having to fight through different things, it shows me it doesn't matter what it is I have to go through, I can do it,” he said. “Period.”
Holiday's performance last season helped him land a two-year contract with the Hawks, but this next step in his career is just that. He still believes he has plenty to prove.
“Having this season just motivates me even more,” Holiday said. “It makes me want to work even more. I have a fire lit under me and I just want to continue to work and become better.”
With his professional career taking him across the country and around the world, Holiday hasn't been back to Seattle much since he graduated. But, looking back on his time at Washington, Holiday said the experience was “just a great time.”
“The fans here were great,” he said. “The school was great. My teammates were great. The organization was great.”
In addition to being on campus for a photo shoot and various interviews, Holiday took some time to share his story with freshmen athletes in the LEAP program.
“Sometimes kids don't understand what it takes to actually be able to do what you want to do in life, what it takes to actually graduate and how important that actually is,” said Holiday, who speaks with the authority of someone who has been through the process.
“The journey toward getting an education will prepare you for life after college. I just want to make sure I come in here and show them an example of someone who graduated, made it to the NBA and is an NBA champion. It's very important for me to be able to give back.”
Holiday understands he must one day face life after basketball and, while he isn't looking forward to that day, he made sure he secured the education that will help him through that transition when it comes.
“You never know when it's going to stop,” he said. “You want to make sure you've got an education to fall back on, but you also want to make sure you have that fight of getting that education so you can make it in life when you're not playing that sport anymore.”
Holiday is here because giving up was never an option. He went from undrafted free agent to NBA champion. He is just getting started.
“I'm thankful for the struggles I've been through, because I couldn't quit,” he said. “I'm always going to be prepared for any struggle I'll have in life.”
